First-ever photo of wild Siberian tiger taken in China

A remote camera clicked the first known photograph of a wild Siberian or Amur tiger in northern China last week, providing strong evidence that tigers are crossing from the Russian Far East to repopulate previous tiger strongholds. The tiger was photographed in Jilin Province’s Hunchun Nature Reserve. Staff members at the reserve set up the camera-trap after a local farmer reported that a predator killed a mule. The next day, they retrieved the film and discovered the image of an adult tiger feeding on the carcass.

Adult tiger photographed last week by remote camera in the Hunchun Nature Reserve in Jilin Province. This is the first known photograph of a Siberian tiger taken in China. Photo credit: Wildlife Conservation Society.

NEW YORK (Feb. 6) — A remote camera clicked the first known photograph of a wild Siberian or Amur tiger in northern China last week, providing strong evidence that tigers are crossing from the Russian Far East to repopulate previous tiger strongholds, the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced today.

The tiger was photographed in Jilin Province’s Hunchun Nature Reserve, which WCS helped establish in 2001. Working in partnership with WCS, staff members at the reserve set up the camera-trap after a local farmer reported that a predator killed a mule. The next day, they retrieved the film and discovered the image of an adult tiger feeding on the carcass.

The reserve, on the western side of the border between Russia and China, provides a corridor of habitat so tigers can disperse from Russia and repopulate areas of China where they once lived. Poaching of tigers for traditional Chinese medicine, along with over-hunting of their prey species, wiped out populations in China. Yet much of their habitat remained intact. With increased enforcement of hunting laws, WCS scientists were confident that tigers would return.

“The photo of a wild tiger in Hunchun Nature Reserve represents not only the reserve’s recent progress, but also a bright beginning for Amur tiger conservation in the future,” said Dr. Endi Zang, of The Wildlife Conservation Society.

This May, The Wildlife Conservation Society will open “Tiger Mountain,” a spectacular three-acre, interactive tiger exhibit that links zoo visitors with field conservation efforts, including those in China and the Russian Far East.

14 Responses to First-ever photo of wild Siberian tiger taken in China

How and why would any one kill the most beautifful animals on this earth for what the furs, I am strongly agnist animals like that being hunted at all. The Tigers and other big cats are my fav animal why would any one want to hurt the most beautyful cat that The Lord gave ue to enjoy seeing, instead of killing them they should breed them and then release them back into the wild where the belong.

People shouldn’t kill siberian tigers for their fur or because they think their going to hurt them there not their protecting their cubs or running away to hide! They have fellings too!!!! Also there is only 2,000 left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to protect them by law around the world, like what they did with the blade egale and look at its population then and now! This is a HORRIBLE Aritcal! I’m trying to make a stand and people need to take a stand too!! by the way , i was looking for a life story on wild siberian tigers and i accidently clicked this and read it, WHO EVER POSTED THIS, I HOPE U GET ATTACKED BY A TIGER!!!!!

People shouldn’t kill siberian tigers for their fur or because they think their going to hurt them there not their protecting their cubs or running away to hide! They have fellings too!!!! Also there is only 2,000 left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to protect them by law around the world, like what er did with the blad egale and look at its population them and now! This is a HORRIBLE Aritcal! I’m trying to make a stand and people need to take a stand too!! by the way , i was looking for a life story on wild siberian tigers and i accidently clicked this and read it, who ever posted this i hope u get attacked by a wild tiger!!!!!

my name is jeeffrey from charllote nc , lots of youth response son hear htats good, tigers are expected to be EXTINCT in the wild by 2020 at the latest, i want to take my kids to see tigers ibt he wild but that dream might stay a dream if populations keep declining…..im startung an aquaculture buissiness to help our oceans, i have always loved moeny but still wanted to do do something i love with a pssion, as u youngins are thinking wat u want to do with ur life, do something u have a ASSION andLOVE for, everything will click together eventually, so if you are passionate about tigers DONT WAIT or HESITATE, these cre4atures need inovative minds like u to help protect there DIM future, it must be donw NOW.

Hi im jackie and i’m 11 and i am doing a science project on the enviroment. I decided to do an endangered animal and i love tigers so i picked one species… the siberian tiger. I am heartbroken to hear about all the pain the tigers are having to go through. Jackie

I do respect to “Tiger Mountain”, the wildlife conservation society. I am sure that these type of activities will definately help us to re-establish the dignity of TIGERS.

I belong to merinews, which is a participatory media platform. We have recently started a special coverage on the Tiger Conservation, in which we have a discussion going on regarding tigersâ€™ future in India. Iâ€™m sure you have something interesting on the subject to share with our readers.

I would like to invite you to participate in this discussion. You can share about your experiences and insights on this subject.